Author Archives: David Coltart
Representation of interest through civil society organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa – The Zimbabwean experience
Systems of Representation and Democratic Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa Speech given at Konrad Adenhauer Foundation Conference at Brussels 21/9/06 Representation of interest through civil society organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa The Zimbabwean experience Zimbabwe has some of the best developed, established and run civil society organisations in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these organisations have been established […]
Statement regarding the arrest and alleged assault of ZCTU and MDC members
The MDC expresses its deep concern and outrage regarding the pre-emptive arrests of ZCTU members and our colleagues in the MDC, the alleged denial of access to them by lawyers and alleged assaults of them by state operatives this week. Notwithstanding the provisions of POSA, the Zimbabwean Constitution is quite clear regarding the right that […]
Letter to Bulawayo South Constituents September 2006
Dear Friends, When I last wrote to you in late May, explaining my views regarding the split in the MDC, I said I would write again regarding my general work as your MP, and this is now that letter. Life in Zimbabwe continues to get harder for all her people except the ruling elite who […]
Letter to friends
Dear Friends, I don’t know whether you have been following the recent discussion on SW Radio Africa involving Tendai and Welshman. The last transcript has just been published and this excerpt is important: “Violet: And, finally, you know, some have asked why the visionaries and luminaries in the MDC are wasting time and breath and […]
Mugabe plans laws to silence critics
Peta Thornycroft Zimbabwe is poised to introduce draconian laws to silence its critics, both at home and abroad, who face 20 years in jail if they “publish or communicate a falsehood”. Opposition members have condemned the measures as “the most fascist legislation this country has known”. The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill, went through […]
Violence of the heart
Zimbabwe Independent Editor’s Memo By Vincent Kahiya A MARTIN Luther King commandment says “refrain from violence of the fist, tongue and heart”. Most people can stop themselves from hitting others out of fear of arrest and can bite their tongue to refrain from saying something mean, but violence of the heart is challenging. Following this […]
Letter to the Editor, Zimdaily
Editor, Zimdaily. 28th June 2006 Dear Sir, The article you published by Tsungai Mhaka on Monday the 26th June 2006 is in some respects false and you are invited to correct the falsehoods and publicly apologise for them. Whilst I take issue with most of what has been written as it is largely comment I […]
Statement of David Coltart regarding his political future
I am very proud to have been a founder member of the MDC and to have been part of the courageous struggle of the MDC during the last seven years to bring an end to tyranny in Zimbabwe. In particular I was proud to be part of a united organisation that transcended the tribal, ethnic, […]
The reasons why I cannot join the Tsvangirai faction
It is 7 months since the divisive meeting of the MDC National Executive was held on the 12th October 2005. I have refrained from making public statements since then but am now of the view that the public have a right to know my perspective. I have always believed that the two factions of the […]
MDC must deal with violence in its own ranks
Zimbabwe Independent David Coltart ZIMBABWE has been afflicted with the terrible disease of endemic violence for over 150 years. Violence was used by Lobengula to suppress the Shona. It was used to colonise and after that to maintain minority rule, to overthrow white supremacy and, after Independence in 1980, to crush any possibility of legitimate […]